EP2921615B1 - Pneumatic tent, in particular a canopy of stars - Google Patents

Description

Pneumatic tents are usually to be understood as inflatable tents and carrying tents, which are used wherever a simple and fast construction, a low transport weight, small packing dimensions and possibly an increased advertising effectiveness are of significant importance.

Frequently, these pneumatic tents are used only briefly, for example, as a device tent on large construction sites, as a promotional pavilion, as a tent for military operations, as a medical tent, as emergency shelters, as housing for traveling exhibitions, as a festival hostel or as a pavilion for sporting events.

For the construction of pneumatic tents have so far been able to assert three basic designs in the market, which are filled to maintain the required internal pressure either only once with air and sealed by valves or a blower / compressor is operated permanently.

The first construction is immanent that the tent skin forming the shell of the tent is double-walled and divided into chambers, each chamber being inflated individually or several chambers in the composite.

From this double-walled construction, the construction differs from a breech block, which is supported by a positive pressure generated by a fan and has a correspondingly formed pressure lock for access.

Ultimately, the frame construction with inflatable frame is called, in which the frame is at least partially wrapped by an additional tarpaulin as the outer skin. Such tent constructions are primarily in the camping, in the advertising industry and sports events their lovers, since their functional design and visual appearance are virtually no limits and beyond for their construction no - often cumbersome to handle - linkage is needed.

The production limits of the latter type of pneumatic tents are, however, where there is a desire to provide so-called star tents as purely pneumatic tents available to the market. Star tents differ from other tents in that they have a larger height and thus provide a more pleasant "sense of space" for the users.

Star tents consist essentially of a single, usually made of aluminum or wood, vertically extending, centrally placed pillar and a tent skin, which extends like a dome over the culmination of the column and distally secured at several points by means of clamping elements and anchored to the ground , The installation of such a column, which naturally has a high weight with a standard length of 4m to 12 m, requires for assembly / disassembly at least two people, which inevitably entails organizational and financial costs.

With the solutions currently available on the market, it has not been possible to substitute the heavy, centrically placed aluminum or wood column for an easier-to-handle construction.

The object of the invention is now to propose a pneumatic tent, in particular star tent, which is particularly easy when Transport and assembly / disassembly by one person only. In addition, the pneumatic tent should have a greater functionality. FR 2 248 381 discloses a pneumatic tent according to the preamble of claim 1.

According to the invention, the pneumatic tent, in particular a star tent, at least one mounting end position starting from the footprint vertically extending spar and a self-supporting spar dome-like extending tent cover, which is locked with locking means against the footprint and tensioned, the one with overpressure charged filling gas having Holm is formed in one or more layers and has a controllable or controllable lighting device, which is placed within the spar.

In a multi-layered spar, the individual layers are permanently connected to one another, for example in the form of a laminate, and / or lie layer-wise without composite on or against each other according to a so-called "onion skin construction".

The multi-layered spar with layer-wise composite on or lying on each other layers preferably comprises a first layer, which is designed as a Holm the outer shape giving and acting as a support structure outer skin. A second layer is designed as a once filled filling gas reservoir formed inner tube with at least one outer skin penetrating valve, the controllable or controllable illumination device is placed either within the inner tube designed as a fillable Füllgasreservoir or between the inner tube and the outer skin.

As filling gases preferably pure oxygen, nitrogen or a mixture thereof, or air, are used. Although air, unlike nitrogen, is of course fully available free of charge, it does For example, pure nitrogen over air, in which it is only partially present, has the advantage that it has larger molecules that are less prone to diffusion.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, however, only one relative to the tent cover centrically placed spar is used, on the culmination of which the tent cover spans like a dome. The outer shape resembles the shape of a North American Indian tent, respectively a teepee. Furthermore, it is also possible to provide two spars, which are then used when the desire of users for a larger "covered" tent area exists.

With this solution, the market for the first time a pneumatic star tent available in which not only the tent cover but also at least one illuminated spar, in addition to its function as a supporting element, can be used as a backlit advertising space without the need to maintain the internal pressure a fan to operate permanently.

As a material for the robust outer skin of the spar, a polyester, for example Dacron, is preferably used.

The outer skin of the spar comprises an abrasion-resistant and mechanical force-resistant foot portion, a middle portion and a standing with the tent cover operatively connected head portion, wherein one or more sections locking means in the form of loops, rings, Velcro or eyelets, the spar over the footprint and on the other hand be able to attach functional elements in the form of bulbs, speakers, banners, brackets or controls on the spar.

It has proved to be particularly advantageous if the operative connection between the conically shaped head portion of the spar and the tent cover is realized by means of Velcro.

In order to give the spar a sufficiently good stability in the final assembly position, it is provided that the cylinder-shaped spar is assigned a torus placed on the placement surface whose free cross-section is adapted to the cross-section of the spar, wherein the torus having the weighting means surrounds the foot portion of the spar in a ring-like manner and possibly coupled to the spar. As a weighting agent for the torus while water or sand is provided, which are almost free of charge at almost every place of installation.

The support structure of the spar is formed according to the invention by the outer skin made of polyester in interaction with the inner tube placed inside the outer skin, which is completely enveloped by the outer skin. To ensure optimum adaptation of the inflated inner tube to the outer skin is preferably used as a material polyurethane (PU) in the form of a film.

Such a construction, namely the construction of a support structure by means of a high-strength Dacron outer skin and an inner PU film, has proved to be particularly advantageous in countless series of experiments in order to be able to be used even under the most adverse weather conditions.

For selected applications of the subject invention has been successfully proven to form the tent cover and / or the outer skin of the spar in several parts or segments, the individual parts or segments sewn together, glued, welded or connected by Velcro connection.

Particularly useful is at least one formed in the foot and / or center section of the spar reservoir in which utensils for storage, for example, provided for disposable compressor compressor, power distribution, cables, a control and Regeleinerichtung or provided as a replacement locking means are placed. The concept of the invention is also not opposed if the possibly closable reservoir is formed at a height of the spar in the region of the middle section, which corresponds to a user-friendly working height, i. H. between one meter and two meters, corresponds.

Preferably, the multi-LED comprehensive and designed as a backlight illumination device of the spar on an adjusting and positioning device to the by means of cables or other conductive elements, for. As carbon fiber, LEDs coupled to each other within the spar exactly in height and in the spacing relative to the outer skin of the spar can. The adjusting and positioning device is designed such that it can also be operated in the final assembly position of the pneumatic tent. In the simplest case spacers, pulleys, spaced locking means and one or more thread trains are provided, which are in operative connection with each other.

As already mentioned, the spar has an outer skin giving it its outer shape and functioning as a support structure, and at least one inner tube formed as a once-filling gas reservoir with at least one valve penetrating the outer skin. For reasons of failure, functional and operational safety, it may also be expedient to provide a plurality of parallel inner tubes to produce a desired redundancy. The parallel design of the safety system ensures that in case of failure of an inner tube due to an unexpected drop in pressure of the other inner tubes or the ensure the required stability of the tent shell-bearing spar. This minimizes the risk of a common failure of all inner tubes placed in the spar.

The at least one inner tube comprises a valve penetrating the outer skin, which is designed as an inlet valve with integrated suction-suction function. This means that by switching the flow direction, an inner tube inflated by means of an electric pump, compressed air cylinder or compressor can also be easily emptied or evacuated again.

• kompaktes pneumatisches Zelt mit großer Funktionalität, welches besonders einfach beim Transport und bei der Montage/Demontage nur durch eine Person zu handhaben ist,
• pneumatisches Zelt besteht aus zumindest einem selbstragenden Holm und einer kuppelartig über den Holm sich erstreckenden Zelthülle, wobei der ein mit Überdruck beaufschlagtes Füllgas aufweisende Holm einlagig oder mehrlagig ausgebildet ist und eine steuerbare oder regelbare Beleuchtungseinrichtung aufweist, die innerhalb des Holms platziert ist,
• bei einem mehrlagig ausgebildeten Holm sind die einzelnen Lagen dauerhaft miteinander, beispielsweise in Gestalt eines Laminats, verbunden und/oder liegen schichtweise ohne Verbund auf- oder aneinander,
• bei einem mehrlagig ausgebildeten Holm mit schichtweise ohne Verbund auf- oder aneinander liegenden Lagen ist eine erste Lage als eine dem Holm die äußere Form gebende und als Stützstruktur fungierende Außenhaut eine zweite Lage als einmal befüllbares Füllgasreservoir ausgebildeter Innenschlauch mit zumindest einem die Außenhaut durchdringenden Ventil ausgebildet, wobei die steuerbare oder regelbare Beleuchtungseinrichtung entweder innerhalb des als befüllbares Füllgasreservoir ausgebildeten Innenschlauchs oder zwischen dem Innenschlauch und der Außenhaut platziert ist,
• nicht nur die Zelthülle, sondern auch der illuminierte Holm kann neben seiner Funktion als tragendes Element auch als hinterleuchtete Werbefläche genutzt werden,
• der Holm ist als Einmalbefüllsystem ausgebildet ohne die Notwendigkeit, zur Aufrechterhaltung des Innendrucks ein Gebläse permanent betreiben zu müssen,
• Zelthülle und Holm sind nur temporär miteinander fixiert und stehen ausschließlich durch eine Klettverbindung miteinander in Eingriff, wodurch eine Austauschbarkeit aus verschiedenen Gründen problemlos realisiert werden kann,
• einer oder mehrere Abschnitte des Holms umfassen Arretierungsmittel in Gestalt von Schlaufen, Ringen, Klettverschlüssen oder Ösen, um einerseits den Holm gegenüber der Aufstellfläche und andererseits Funktionalelemente in Gestalt von Leuchtmitteln, Lautsprechern, Werbebannern, Halterungen oder Bedienelementen am Holm befestigen zu können,
• dem zylinderförmig ausgebildeten Holm ist ein auf der Aufstellfläche platzierter Torus zugeordnet, dessen freier Querschnitt passfähig zum Querschnitt des Holmes ausgebildet ist, wobei der Beschwerungsmittel aufweisende Torus ringartig den Fußabschnitt des Holmes umschließt und ggf. mit dem Holm gekoppelt ist und somit dem Holm eine hinreichende Standsicherheit verleiht und
• die Beleuchtungseinrichtung ist als Hinterleuchtung ausgebildet, die innerhalb des als befüllbares Füllgasreservoir ausgebildeten Innenschlauchs oder zwischen dem Innenschlauch und der Außenhaut platziert ist.

The significant advantages and features of the invention over the prior art are essentially:

• compact pneumatic tent with great functionality, which is very easy to handle during transport and assembly / disassembly by one person only,
• pneumatic tent consists of at least one self-supporting spar and a dome-like over the spar extending tent cover, wherein the pressurized gas with a pressurized spar having a single-layer or multi-layer and has a controllable or controllable lighting device, which is placed within the spar,
• in a multi-layered spar, the individual layers are permanently connected to one another, for example in the form of a laminate, and / or lie layer-by-layer on or against one another,
• in a multi-layered spar with layers without composite on or lying layers is a first layer as a Holm the outer shape and acting as a support outer skin a second layer formed as a once fillable Füllgasreservoir formed inner tube with at least one outer skin penetrating valve, wherein the controllable or controllable illumination device is placed either within the inner tube designed as a fillable filling gas reservoir or between the inner tube and the outer skin,
• not only the tent cover, but also the illuminated spar can be used as a supporting element as a backlit advertising space in addition to its function
• the spar is designed as a one-time filling system without the need to operate a fan permanently to maintain the internal pressure,
• Tent cover and spar are only temporarily fixed to each other and are exclusively by a Velcro connection engaged with each other, whereby interchangeability for various reasons can be easily realized,
• one or more sections of the spar comprise locking means in the form of loops, rings, hook-and-loop fasteners or eyelets in order, on the one hand, to fasten the spar to the installation surface and, on the other hand, functional elements in the form of bulbs, loudspeakers, advertising banners, holders or operating elements on the spar,
• the cylinder-shaped spar is assigned a placed on the footprint Torus whose free cross-section is adapted to the cross-section of the Holmes, wherein the weighting Torus toroidally surrounds the foot portion of the spar and possibly coupled to the spar and thus the spar a sufficient stability lends and
• the illumination device is designed as a backlight, which is placed within the inner tube designed as a fillable filling gas reservoir or between the inner tube and the outer skin.

Fig. 1:

eine Frontansicht des pneumatischen Zelts in einer ersten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 2:

eine perspektivische Ansicht des pneumatischen Zelts in einer ersten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 3:

eine Draufsicht auf das pneumatische Zelt in einer ersten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 4:

eine Frontansicht des pneumatischen Zelts in einer zweiten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 5:

eine perspektivische Ansicht des pneumatischen Zelts in einer zweiten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 6:

eine Draufsicht auf das pneumatische Zelt in einer zweiten Ausgestaltung mit einlagig ausgebildetem Holm,

Fig. 7:

eine perspektivische Darstellung des Fußabschnitts und Mittenabschnitts eines mehrlagig ausgebildeten Holms und

Fig. 8:

eine perspektivische Detaildarstellung des Torus.

The foregoing features and advantages of this invention should be better understood and appreciated after a thorough study of the following detailed description of the preferred non-limiting example embodiments of the invention herein, together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1:

a front view of the pneumatic tent in a first embodiment with a single-rail trained Holm,

Fig. 2:

a perspective view of the pneumatic tent in a first embodiment with one-piece trained spar,

3:

a plan view of the pneumatic tent in a first embodiment with a single-rail trained Holm,

4:

a front view of the pneumatic tent in a second embodiment with a single-rail trained Holm,

Fig. 5:

a perspective view of the pneumatic tent in a second embodiment with a single-rail trained Holm,

Fig. 6:

a top view of the pneumatic tent in a second embodiment with one-piece trained spar,

Fig. 7:

a perspective view of the foot portion and middle portion of a multi-layered spar and

Fig. 8:

a perspective detail of the torus.

The FIGS. 1 to 3 show a front view, a perspective view and a top view of the pneumatic tent 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment with einlagig trained Holm 2. The trained as a typical star tent pneumatic tent 1 has in the example shown in a final assembly position starting from the footprint 8 vertically extending spar. 2 and on the self-supporting spar 2 dome-like extending tent cover 3, which is locked with locking means 4 relative to the footprint 8 and tensioned. The only used here Holm 2 is placed centrally relative to the tent cover 3, wherein the tent cover 3 spans over the culmination point 1.1 of the beam 2 like a dome. The one loaded with pressure filling gas spar 2 is formed in this example only a single layer. The single-layer spar 2 or the single-layer wall of the spar 2 gives the spar 2 the outer shape and acts by the introduced, under overpressure filling gas as a support structure. As can be seen, the tent cover 3 is constructed in several parts or segment-like, wherein the individual parts or segments are sewn together. The spar 2 further comprises an abrasion-resistant foot section 2.4, which is resistant to mechanical force, a middle section 2.5 and a head section 2.6 operatively connected to the tent cover 3. The detachable or temporary operative connection between the conically shaped head section 2.6 of the spar 2 and the tent cover 3 is realized by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.

The FIGS. 4 to 6 show a front view, a perspective view and a top view of the pneumatic tent 1 according to the invention in a second embodiment with einlagig trained Holm 2. The trained as a typical star tent pneumatic tent 1 has in the illustrated example two in Montageendposition starting from the footprint 8 vertically extending spars 2 and on the two self-supporting spars 2 dome-like extending tent cover 3, which is locked with locking means 4 relative to the footprint 8 and tensioned. The two spars 2 are linear, ie placed on a common axis relative to the tent cover 3, wherein the tent cover 3 spans over the respective culmination points 1.1 of the spars 2 like a dome. The two each having an over-pressurized filling gas having spars 2 are formed in this example only one layer. The two single-layer spars 2 and the single-layer wall of each spar 2 give them the outer shape and act by the introduced, under pressure filling gas also as a support structure. As can be seen, the tent cover 3 is constructed in several parts or segment-like, wherein the individual parts or segments are sewn together. Each of the two spars 2 further includes an abrasion-resistant and resistant to mechanical force foot section 2.4, a middle section 2.5 and a standing with the tent cover 3 operatively connected head section 2.6. The detachable or temporary operative connection between the conically shaped head section 2.6 of each spar 2 and the tent cover 3 is in each case realized by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.

The Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the foot section 2.4 and center section 2.5 of a multi-layered spar 2, in which the individual layers in layers without composite or lie against each other. A first layer is designed as a hollow body 2 giving the outer shape and acting as a support structure outer skin 2.1 and a second layer is formed as a once fillable Füllgasreservoir trained inner tube 2.2 with at least one outer skin 2.1 penetrating valve 2.3. The controllable or controllable illumination device 5 is located, for example, within the inner tube 2.2 designed as a fillable filling gas reservoir. The inner tube 2.2 of each spar 2 is made of a stretchable PU and the outer skin 2.1 consists of a polyester fabric, here Dacron. Both the foot section 2.4 and the Center section 2.5 have locking means 4 in the form of only indicated loops, rings, hook-and-loop fasteners or loops in order to be able to fasten the spar 2 with respect to the set-up surface 8 and on the other hand functional elements in the form of bulbs, loudspeakers, advertising banners, holders or control elements on the spar 2. The center section 2.5 comprises a reservoir 7, in which utensils for storage, for example, provided for the disposable filling of the spar 2 compressor, power distribution, cables, a control and Regeleinerichtung or provided as a replacement locking means 4 are placed. The multiple LED comprehensive and designed as a backlight illumination device 5 of the spar 2 has an adjusting and positioning device 5.1 to align the coupled by means of LEDs LEDs within the beam 2 exactly in height and in the distance from the outer skin 2.1 of the spar 2 can. In the illustrated Fig. 7 the reference numeral indicates an on-off switch for a vertical lift device of the lighting device 5; Likewise, the on-off switch for the lighting device 5 can be arranged at this point.

From the Fig. 8 is a detailed perspective view of a segmented torus 6 can be seen. The cylinder-shaped spar 2, see FIGS. 1 . 3 or 7 , is preferably assigned to this placed on the footprint 8 torus 6, whose free cross-section is adapted to the cross-section of the spar 2, wherein the weighting torus 2 annularly surrounds the foot section 2.4 of the spar 2 and additionally coupled by means not shown lines with the spar 2 is and thus gives the spar 2 a sufficient stability. As weighting means for the torus 6 water or sand is provided. The torus 6 may in this case consist of a dimensionally stable material supplied from the factory or be made of a material which forms its dimensional stability only after filling with sand or water.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

1

Pneumatic tent

1.1

culmination

2

Holm

2.1

shell

2.2

inner tube

2.3

Valve

2.4

foot section

2.5

mid section

2.6

header

3

tent cover

4

locking

5

lighting device

5.1

Adjustment and positioning device

6

torus

7

reservoir

8th

footprint

Claims (13)

1. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, comprising at least one pole (2) extending vertically from the mounting surface (8) in the final assembly position as well as a tent cover (3) extending in a dome-like manner over the self-supporting pole (2) and which is locked and tensioned with locking means (4) to the mounting surface (8), wherein the pole (2) comprising a pressurized filling gas is formed as a single layer or in multiple layers, characterized in that the pole comprises a controllable or adjustable lighting device (5) placed within the pole (2).
2. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claim 1, characterized in that, in case of a pole (2) formed as multiple layers, the individual layers

   a. are permanently bonded to each other, e.g. in form of a laminate, and/or

   b. lie on top of or adjacent to one another in layers without bonding.
3. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in case of a pole (2) formed as multiple layers with layers lying on top of or adjacent to one another in layers without bonding

   a. a first layer is designed as an outer skin (2.1) giving the pole (2) its outer shape and acting as a support structure and

   b. a second layer is formed as an inner tube (2.2) formed as a filling gas reservoir for a single filling and having at least one valve (2.3) penetrating through the outer skin,

   wherein the controllable or adjustable lighting device (5) is placed either within the inner tube (2.2) formed as a filling gas reservoir to be filled or between the inner tube (2.2) and the outer skin (2.1).
4. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, if only one pole (2) is used, the tent cover (3) spans in a dome-like manner across the apex (1.1) of the pole (2) positioned centrally relative to the tent cover (3).
5. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the outer skin (2.1) of the pole (2) consists of polyester, e.g. Dacron.
6. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 3 to 5, characterized in that the outer skin (2.1) of the pole (2) comprises an abrasion-resistant foot section (2.4) resistant to an applied mechanical force, a middle section (2.5) as well as a head section (2.6) in operative connection with the tent cover (3), wherein one or several sections (2.4-2.6) comprise locking means (4) in the form of loops, rings, hook-and-loop fasteners or eyelets for fastening the pole (2) to the mounting surface (8), on the one hand, and functional elements in the form of lighting means, loudspeakers, advertising banners, holding devices or control elements to the pole (2), on the other hand.
7. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claim 6, characterized in that the operative connection between the conically shaped head section (2.6) of the pole (2) and the tent cover (3) is realized by means of a hook-and-loop fastener.
8. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the cylinder-shaped pole (2) is associated with a torus (6) placed on the mounting surface (8) and the free cross-section of which is formed to conform to the cross-section of the pole (2), wherein the torus (6) comprising ballast means encloses the foot section (2.4) of the pole (2) in a ring-like manner and is optionally coupled with the pole (2), thus providing the pole (2) with sufficient stability.
9. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to claim 8, characterized in that the ballast means for the torus (6) is intended to be water or sand.
10. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the inner tube (2.2) of the pole (2) consists of a stretchable PU foil.
11. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 1 to 10 characterized in that the tent cover (3) and/or the outer skin (2.1) of the pole (2) is/are constructed from multiple parts or segments, wherein the individual parts or segments are sewn, glued, welded or connected by a hook-and-loop connection to one another.
12. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 6 to 11, characterized in that the foot section (2.4) and/or the middle section (2.5) comprises at least a storage space (7) for storing utensils, e.g. the compressor provided for a single filling, power distribution, cables, a control and adjustment device or replacement locking means (4).
13. Pneumatic tent (1), in particular a canopy of stars, according to any of the claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the lighting device (5) of the pole (2) comprising several LEDs and designed as backlighting comprises an adjustment and positioning device (5.1) for aligning the LEDs within the pole (2) coupled to one another by means of cables exactly in height and distance to the outer skin (2.1) of the pole (2).

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